Flint Musket w/o touch hole

[oneshooter]

I have been wanting a Brown Bess Musket for some time now. The price of most smoothbore muskets is about TWICE the price of a rifled weapon.


Except for. The current crop of imports that are not drilled for a touch hole. The prices are low, but what is the quality like? Anybody have one? Is the frizzen properly hardened? Internal parts correct? Are they safe to use with live loads? Any info would be a help.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[Third_Rail]

Allegedly, they're not vented so that they don't have to deal with the "costly" proofing.


...



Think about that for a minute, they don't want to deal with proofing, that is, testing the guns to see if they'll hold up.


I wouldn't buy it as anything other than a wall hangar.

 

[Smokin_Gun]

Is it a Canadian Co.?
I have seen simular type Muskets sold only for rernactment purposes, and movie sets.

 

[oneshooter]

Mainly I have seen them advertised as being, "non firearms" sold this way as a way around import laws. Gunbroker and GunsAmerica mainly.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[Smokin_Gun]

Here's the place I was talking about that makes the undrilled vent hole muskets.

http://www.militaryheritage.com/musket5.htm

 

[arcticap]

It's my understanding that there are about 3 different importers of Indian guns. Generally the quality is quite good for the price, but they may be from different manufacturers.
One fellow on another forum described how he had purchased a non-drilled model, and when he went to drill the vent, he encountered the breechplug where it shouldn't have been. The breechplug was threaded too deep. The company was willing to take it back, but it was their last one and he was considering how to fix it himself. It's probably safer to buy one that's already vented.
Most people report that the Indian guns produce showers of sparks and are worth the money, and these are experienced flint shooters. The wood used for the stocks is reported to be a little softer than on the more expensive guns.

http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/

http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/mainpage.html

http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/brownbesseastindiapattern.html

 

[oneshooter]

the prices look great. Again the problem of proof testing. The local shops want $12-1500 for muskets that have been taking up rack space for several years!!!

What is standard load for the Bess and/or the Charlie? Perhaps a double charge w/2 RB as a proof?

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[arcticap]

Check Faq's Page & Call Them

Lots of experienced shooters do not recommend self proofing barrels made from modern gun steel. There's really no need to, but that's up to you.
Did you go to the faq's page and read it entirely? These are made from modern steel, are designed & built to shoot and come with a warranty. You should direct any questions to the sellers of these guns, (especially about self proofing). They are highly reputable and will answer honestly. I don't shoot any flintlocks myself so I can't tell you about what loads to shoot. But there are literally thousands of satisfied customers.

PM me if you can't obtain the info. you want and I'll link you up with more specific sites that may be able to answer your questions. Good luck.


http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/faq.shtml

 

[Hal Romberg]

I picked up a pair of the sea-service pistols from the military heritage folks. They're having proper vents installed now, and I'll post results once I get home and have a chance to work up some loads.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

The lack of the touch-hole is NOT necessarily because it's a wall hanger. The first link was to The Discriminating General, and the second and third posted links were to Middlesex Village and Loyalist Arms. All of the muskets are made in India, or have Indian components. The lack of the touch hole is mostly due to marketing the things in Europe, or to comply with Canadian arms export law.

I have bought Loyalist Arms muskets, with the touch-hole pre-drilled, but the gun came in two boxes, so that all I had to do was assemble it. The pre-drilling of the hole done by the manufacturer means if the gun is defective, I may have a claim. If I had drilled it after delivery..., that would've been a non-factory modification. If it ever blew up due to defect..., my problem not theirs.

DONT BE FOOLED by the proof marks! Neither the Indians nor the Italians proof every barrel. A barrel that has been properly proofed should be destroyed as it held the charge but is probably weakened. They random test batches of the barrels, and add the proof marks to the remaining barrels in the batch when one or two of the random ones pass the test. A proof mark doesn't mean THAT barrel was tested!

LD

 

[oneshooter]

Loyalist Dave, Was the musket shipped in two boxes due to laws in Your state? Or is it a SOP for that company?

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas